International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, Volume 9, Issue 4, April 2019 83 ISSN 2250-3153 The ITC Literacy of e-Government Administrators in Communication and Informatics Office of West Regency, North Sumatera -

Burhanuddin Panjaitan* Balai Besar Pengembangan Sumber Daya Manusia dan Penelitian Kementerian Komunikasi dan Informatika, Jl. Tombak No. 31 Medan

DOI: 10.29322/IJSRP.9.04.2019.p8815 http://dx.doi.org/10.29322/IJSRP.9.04.2019.p8815

Abstract - The electronic-government or e-government is viewed accordance with their respective duties, functions and authorities as a process with great potential for improving public service for the implementation of national e-Government development. delivery to individual citizens. Thus, purpose of this study is to In implementing e-Government State agencies for public recognize the ability of HR and find out what aspects of technical services, the West Government has started by capability are needed by the e-Government Administrators of building a basic infrastructure of information technology with Communication and Information Agency of West Nias the use of a Local Area Network (LAN) computer network that Regency, Province. Thus, the subject of this study connects the Regional Work Unit or Satuan Kerja Perangkat are e-gov administrators of Communication and Information Daerah (SKPD) in the environment integrated office in the city Agency of . This study employed the center of West Nias Regency in 2016 Regional Budget, which is descriptive methods with total sampling determination. The expected to be connected to the internet in February 2017, result of study revealed that the concept of e-Gov has not been according to the agreement with the internet service provider fully implemented in West Nias Regency. The main reason is from PT. Telkom Indonesia Wilayah Timur Sumatera Utara. due to the lack of support of the local government, especially the shorten of financial support that impact on the e-gov Thus, in focusing on one SKPD in terms of managing public administrators’ performance. communication information services and ICT management, the West Nias Regency Government has formed a new SKPD Keywords: ICT, literacy, e-government, administrator, namely the Office of Communication and Information development. Technology based on Government Regulation Number 18 of 2016, Regulation of the Minister of Communication and Information Number 14 in 2016, and has appointed a Structural I. INTRODUCTION Officer in December 2016 to handle the intended Service. The advancement and development of information and Due to the new established of SKPD of West Nias Regency communication technology (ICT) brings the significant changes Communication and Information Office, this work unit needs for to human life. Since the civilization time, information is one of the experienced personnel in the field of information the most important things that accelerates changes in the life of management and ICT services, especially in department that mankind. The lack of information will cause uncertainty and handle e-Government. Thus, the Balai Besar Pengkajian dan discomfort in humans’ life. Thus, humans unrestlessly find and Pengembangan Komunikasi dan Informatika (BBPPKI) Medan exchanges information each other to suppress the uncertainties. conducts research and studies on the development of human This is clearly evident in the life of our society from the scope of resources of Communication and Information Officers of West the simple to the most complex. Nias Regency in the context of implementing e-Government for The ICT has a center role in the future governance. Accurate, public services in accordance with direction of the President of timely, and comprehensive information is required to support Republic of Indonesia. economic development decision and policy making at all levels In dealing with those needs, this study investigates the ITC of government. The central and regional government agencies literacy among the e-Government administrator of have taken the initiative to develop public services through Communication and Informatics Office of West Nias Regency, communication and information networks as the implementation North Sumatra Province which is iniated in 2016. of Presidential Instruction No.3/2003 on National Policy and Strategy for e-Government Development, which mandates every II. LITERATURE REVIEW Governor and Regent or Mayor to take steps which is needed in

http://dx.doi.org/10.29322/IJSRP.9.04.2019.p8815 www.ijsrp.org International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, Volume 9, Issue 4, April 2019 84 ISSN 2250-3153 The term of electronic-Government or known as e-Gov was a. Sociodemographic and psychographic aspects, such as age, officially introduced to public administration through the gender, education, income, and interest in information and Presidential Instruction No. 6/2001 regarding ICT (in Indonesian, technology; Telematika) to support the good governance. E-gov is one of the b. Professional background and experience, such as background good governance tools to provide new insights related to of public relations education, length of work, technical skills accountability. It should be manifested by provides ‘access’ to of information and technology possessed; outsiders or citizen for what is being done. In fact, in certain sectors, it also includes free access to participating in the c. Worldview dimensions that consist of attitudes, values and planning, implementation, and evaluation. When there is no beliefs in the internet and e-Government access, then the government is considered as not accountable (Son in Huda and Yunas, 2016:98). d. Understanding of the code of ethics and professional rules with dimensions that consist of the presence or absence of The development of e-Government is part of the efforts to set up professional rules and codes of ethics applied in e- structure, system, and administration which is efficient, effective, Government, social responsibility; transparently, and accountable. It is essential to be supported by capable human resources, good management systems, processes, e. The communicators authority in the organization, that consist and controlling systems. The main challenges in the development of resilience, problem solving, and decision making. of e-Government lie in the non-technical aspect, particularly The respondents of this study were the administrators of e- planning. However, the lack of ICT Human Resources has Government in the Office of Communication and Information of caused ICT to put in a low priority. (Salahuddin and Rusli, West Nias Regency, North Sumatra Province. The sampling 2005:8) technique used is total sampling. Studies on e-gov in several regions of Indonesia revealed that the Data were categorized into primary and secondary data. The government officials reluctant to do the task online for they primary data was obtained through the Questionnaires and in- prefer the traditional way. Bastian (2003) suggested that the depth interviews, while the secondary data was collected from Indonesian government must learn from the causes of the failure the observations concerning the e-Government in the West Nias of e-government in some countries due to several factors, Regency Information and Communication Agency. namely: the unpreparedness of human resources, information technology infrastructure, and lack of attention from the stakeholders. IV. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Wahid (2008:39) recognizes the disparity in e-government 4.1 Description of e-Government in West Nias Regency implementation among the regencies or cities in Indonesia. Furthermore, the reasons are including management, In the framework of implementing e-Government of State infrastructure, and human factors that vary across this large and administrators for public services in accordance with the heterogeneous country. From 456 of regencies and cities direction of the President of the Republic of Indonesia, the West websites, 66.9% of them has their own website and were in Nias Regency Government has started to build a basic operations, while other were either still embedded into website of information technology infrastructure with the construction of province, not found, or inaccessible. Hermana et.al. (2012:196) a Local Area Network (LAN) that connects all Regional Work found that out of total 443 local governments in Indonesia that Units (SKPD) in integrated office environments in the city center already have official websites, only 374 website that are of West Nias Regency for Regional Budget 2016, which is accessible at the time. Moreover, important issues in financial expected to be connected to the internet in February 2017, in line management in Indonesia is transparency and public with the agreement with the internet service providers from accountability. PT. Telkom Indonesia Eastern Region of North Sumatra. In 2015, an evaluation to 32 regional and city official website in Related to the above matter, in focusing on one SKPD in terms Indonesia also revealed the similar result. Public Administration of managing public communication information services and ICT Reform for better, faster, and more transparency of public service management, the West Nias Regency Government has formed a by implementing e-Gov in Indonesia is still running slowly and new SKPD namely the Office of Communication and the cities government seems to be focus on the business service Information Technology based on Government Regulation No. and finance transparency rather than other services. (Prahono and 18 of 2016, Regulation of the Minister of Communication and Elidjen, 2015: 32). Information No. 14 In 2016, and has appointed a Structural Officer at the end of December 2016 to handle the intended III. METHOD Service. This study use Cross-sectional design that performs for one To follow up on the operation of the network that was completed period of study. (Singelton, et.al, 2008:237). Location of study at the end of 2016, the West Nias Regency Government has This research is located in West Nias Regency, North Sumatra limited human resources ( HR) that are skilled and trained as Province, Indonesia. The objective of study is to map the e- network administrators, limited budgets for training as Government administrators’ capability that consist of: government service application administrators developed by the Ministry of Communication and Informatics, limited funding http://dx.doi.org/10.29322/IJSRP.9.04.2019.p8815 www.ijsrp.org International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, Volume 9, Issue 4, April 2019 85 ISSN 2250-3153 sources to do a variety of specific applications in some Regional 19 to 24 1 33,3 Work Units (SKPD) and limited funds to send State Civil Apparatus (ASN) to participate in various Diklat/Bimtek with 25 to 30 - - various training providers. 31 to 37 - - Therefore, the Government of West Nias pleaded for the 38 to 43 1 33,3 Ministry of Communications and Information Technology to > 43 1 33,3 provide assistance, facilitate and provide training as Network Total 3 100 Administrator and Training of Trainer to the ASN of the Office of Communications and Information Technology West Nias in n = 3 particular fields handle the e-Government in Training and The table above shows that the three e-Government Bimtek held in 2017 both held directly at the Directorate of e- Administrators who are working at the West Nias Regency Government, as well as training held by the Education and Communication and Information Agency are in a relatively Training Center under the Coordination of the Ministry of productive age. Communication and Information. Table 2. The last education

Education Frequency (F) Percentage (%) 4.2 Analysis of the Results of E-Government Mapping in West Nias Regency, North Sumatra Province Senior High School - - 1. Sociodemographic and Psychographic Aspects Diploma - - Bachelor 1 33,33 The establishment of the agency that manages the Electronic Data (PDE), especially those who responsible for managing e- Postgraduate 2 66,67 Government in West Nias Regency still less experienced. In the Total 3 100 framework of the implementation of e-Government agencies for n = 3. public services, the West Nias Regency Government has build a basic infrastructure of information technology with the The table above shows that the e-Government administrator in construction of a computer Local Area Network (LAN) that Communication and Information Agency of West Nias Regency connects all Regional Work Units (SKPD) in office environments have completed their undergraduate education, in fact 2 of them integrated in the city center of West Nias Regency for 2016 have completed Postgraduate (S2). regional budget (APBD), which is expected to be connected to Table 3. ICT interesting level the internet in February 2017. This was based upon the agreement with the internet service providers from PT. Telkom ICT Interest Frequency (F) Percentage (%) Indonesia Eastern Region of North Sumatra. very interested 2 66,67 In accommodate this work, the West Nias Regency government interested 1 33,33 experienced a situation of unpreparedness both infrastructure and superstructure. This is because the penetration of information less interested - - technology, especially the internet in West Nias Regency is still uniterested - - very low. Not only the general public, but many government Total 3 100 officials are unproficient in mastering information technology (IT). n = 3 In analysis that discusses sociodemographic and psychographic The administrators of e-Government in Communication and aspects, it is revealed that the logical consequence is the lack of Information Agency of West Nias have high interest in ICT. This preparedness of the West Nias Regency government apparatus in is evident from the results of the study that two respondents implementing Presidential Instruction No. 3 of 2003 concerning admitted that they were very interested in ICT. This high level of e-Government development proven in quantitative facts interest in ICT should be reflected in their intensity in accessing (statistics) obtained by BBP SDMP Medan researchers in the internet for the week. Moreover, most of e-Government distributing questionnaires to 3 (three) e-Government Administrators are categorized as high user (two persons), while Administrators, because only three people are currently the rest is middle user (1 person). managing e-Government in Communication and Information In improving the skills and abilities of e-Government Agency of West Nias Regency, which was the location of the Administrators, all of the respondents admitted that the books study, where the three e-Government Administrators were men. were useful to be used as a reference. All of e-Government The detail findings are as follows: Administrators claimed to buy books and magazines to increase their knowledge. Table 1. The age of e-Government Administrators 2. The professional background and communicator experience Age Frequency (F) Percentage (%) http://dx.doi.org/10.29322/IJSRP.9.04.2019.p8815 www.ijsrp.org International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, Volume 9, Issue 4, April 2019 86 ISSN 2250-3153 a. Public Relations Education In animation skill category, the result shows that all respondents stated that they did not have the animation skills It has been mentioned in the previous section that the to support their work. qualifications of the work of Administrators of e-Government are basically very related to the basic functions of public relations, 3) Photography Skills and many PDE agencies are under the Office of Communication The photography skill is also not possessed by the and Information. respondents. The results of the questionnaire distribution Of the three respondents who managing the e-Government in shows that two of respondents stated that they did not have West Nias Regency, only one person has a public relations skills in the field of photography, only one person said that he education qualification, and the remaining two people do not had skills in the field of photography as supporting their have a public relations education background. work. b. Information and Technology IT Education e. Updating Website Content Likewise the educational qualifications in the field of IT, ideally The regular updates of website content is a very necessary task in the management of e-Government has an educational background managing website content. This tasks is to maintain the web- in the field of IT, because their work is closely related to content is fresh or "unexpire". The e-Government administrators technical issues in the field of Information Technology (IT). should find the related material from the contents of the website from the local government, especially from the Office of The results of study shows that all e-Government Administrators Information and Communication Technology. of West Nias Regency have the adequate IT education and qualification. Two of the adminstrators had the IT skill from Material that is always up to date will be able to attract the users formal education, and the rest admitted that he received the to always access the website so that they don't miss out on education through trainings and workshops. information. c. Working period as e-Government Administrator The results of the study shows that the website Administrators in Information and Communication Agency of the West Nias As mentioned in previous section, that the implementation e- Regency are not regularly in updating website content. It is done Government has been started since 2003. However, this study only when it is necessary and if there is the latest material / reveals that most of e-Government Administrators in West Nias information to submit. Moreover, the content and the features Regency stated that they are not so familiary to their tasks. They and appearance of the website should be improved. This website added that they had only worked as IT Administrators in their does not provide interactive facilities and has no discussion space work environment for approximately 6 months. and input from website users, thus it is not interesting for public d. Mastery of supporting software to visit. Mastery of various softwares or application programs that are very closely related to the appearance of a website is very 3. Worldview important, because it involves the task of an e-Government Concerning the worldview, an overview of how an administrators where one of them is trying to build a website that Administrators’ view and comprehend the e-Government. The has interesting, informative features and can introduce all view and comprehension of the concept of e-Government is very potential in the district. West Nias which has a website . important, because it is a foundation for the conceptual frame of From the research that has been done obtained data that the the Administrators in carrying out their work professionally and quality and competence of the Administrators of e-Government responsibly. at the Office of Communication and Information of the West The result of study shows that two of e-Government Nias Province Regency was not good enough. This is proven by administrators claimed not possess the knowledge of the e- the fact that respondents are generally less knowledgeable and Government concept, while the rest admitted that he has the e- capable of using some software that is important in creating and Government concept. maintaining a website . e. Other Technical Skills 4. Understanding of professional codes of ethics and rules In the level of other technical skills, the researchers try to find a . The established professional rules in the work environment out how other abilities or technical skills possessed by respondents in supporting their work. Professional rules in the form of Standards Operational Procedures or regulations are guidelines for Administrators in 1) Video editing skill managing the e-Government. The results of the study revealed As the technical category in the video editing skills, the that all of the respondents admitted that the institutions they results shows that all respondents stated that they did not working on has no clear professional rules as guidelines to have the skills in video editing at all to support their work. follows. 2) Animation Skills b . Code of Ethics

http://dx.doi.org/10.29322/IJSRP.9.04.2019.p8815 www.ijsrp.org International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, Volume 9, Issue 4, April 2019 87 ISSN 2250-3153 The code of ethics is important in guiding the e-gov West Nias Regency collaborated with Transportation Administrators to work together in a team. The absent of Agency in managed its website. This govermental official working code of ethic may lead the administrator to work in website provided the practical information and content for unclear area of responsibility in managing the website. However, the users. However the support of West Nias government in the results of the study showed that all e-Government promoting the effectiveness of information publication via Administrators claimed possessed the code of ethics in their the internet is still considered unadequately. However, the working environment. West Nias Regency Government has initiated to continue the effectiveness of information publication through technology.

In 2016, a the West Nias Regency Government network has 5. Organizational structure been installed. The Office of Communication and Informatics of West Nias Regency has links the SKPD In this section, the study was focused on looking at how the agencies in terms of information distribution, but for now, pattern of work relations and hierarchy between staff working as they still limited to several SKPDs, in West Nias Regency Administrators of e-Government in Information and Government. Communication Agency of the West Nias Regency. The important points in this section are as follows: 2. Concerning the structure and working relationship pattern is still unclear. The interviewee suppose an improvement in the a. Work incentives future. The Communication and Informatics Office will be This section aimed to recognize whether the Administrators were used as an information center and internet technology-based staying at work, especially when managing and update the information center in West Nias Regency government. There website contents. Did they given a certain stimulus, in the form are still many obstacles faced in working relationships due to of incentives excluded the basic salary? For working behind a the internet network, this is the main factor that slowing the computer screen in a relatively long duration and is quite weary, public relations tasks. for example due to radiation computer screens to improper sitting 3. The head of West Nias Regency also promised to improve positions may cause the workplace accidents. The respondents IT structure, thus the implementation of e-Government admittance implied that the incentive was not a standard program can be implemented properly. procedure. All of respondents stated that they had never received an incentive as long as they works to update the the website 4. Aside from the technical constraints the Communication and contents in long hours. Informatics Office of West Nias Regency also experiences obstacles in the field of HR to manage the network. The b. Intensity in Facing Working Problems efforts have been made to request additional employees with Facing the problems is part of ITC works. The e-Government an IT education background to the West Nias District Head, administrators also face the working problems, both concerning but until now it has not been fulfilled because Other SKPDs the technical matters, for i.e website contents and appearance to also desperately need employees who have IT education procedural things. The e-Government Administrators claimed backgrounds, so that there are scrambling between existing that they were too often facing the obstacles or problems in their SKPDs if there is an addition to an employee with an IT work. In the term of problem solving, two of respondents education background. admitted discuss it with the team, while one respondent stated 5. In dealing with the problems, an adequate budget is needed. completing it by submitting the matters to the head office. The West Nias as a newly formed SKPD has a limited c. Policy on the Website Content budget to carry out e-Government. Content is primarily determine the appearance of any websites The results of the interview above have a close relationship with and their impact on users. Concerning the policy of website the research through the distribution of questionnaires that have contents, two of respondents admitted that the policy regarding been carried out on the Administrators of e-Government in West the content and features on the website is under the direct control Nias Regency, which is mutually supporting and complementing of the Information and Communication Agency Office of West one another. Nias Regency, while one respondent admitted that the policy regarding manage website content was determined through direct instructions from the District Government Official. However, all V. CONCLUSIONS policies regarding the material and contents of the websites are The concept of e-Government which has been initiated since specified unregularly. 2001 the period of Abdurrahman Wahid by issuing Presidential Finally in completing these results, this study also held and Instruction No. 6, 2001 regarding the construction and utilization interview with th Head of e-Government of West Nias Regency of telecommunications in Indonesia, and was followed up by the and the Head of e-Government Organizing Department. The next Megawati government by issuing Presidential Instruction interviews concludes that: no. 3 2003 June 9, 2003 on policies and strategies for developing e-Government is something that has been running for a long 1. Communication and Informatics Office of West Nias time but has not been fully implemented by the local nor central Regencey was established in January 2017. Previously, the

http://dx.doi.org/10.29322/IJSRP.9.04.2019.p8815 www.ijsrp.org International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, Volume 9, Issue 4, April 2019 88 ISSN 2250-3153 government. Thus, this fact implies that there are many areas that needs to build a network of cooperation with the Minister of are less ready to implement the e-government. Home Affairs based on participatory, transparent and responsive relationships. The problems and trends of e-Government legality Several important points concerning the finding and result of in the era of regional autonomy are to be adjusted to the actual study that was carried out in Communication and Informatics paradigm, namely how to cultivate the young generation towards Office (Diskominfo) of West Nias Regency concerning the ITC skillful knowledge as an increase in Good Governance through e- literacy among the e-government administrators are revealed as Government. follows:

The unpreparedness reflected in both infrastructure and suprastructure. It was found that only a set computer in REFERENCES supporting their task, while for the supra-structure level it can be [1] Bastian,. (2003). Perkembangan e-Government di Indonesia. seen that the e-Government Administrators are not familiar with Bappenas.go.id. http://www.bappenas.go.id/index. the world of ICT. Meanwhile the Administrators of e- php?module=ContentExpress&func=display&-ceid=1693 Government are not possess the adequate information [2] Huda M. and Yunas S. Novy, 2016. The Development of e-Government technology. System in Indonesia. Jurnal Bina Praja 8 (1) (2016): p. 98 The right attitude and comprehension of e-Government [3] Hermana, et.al. 2012. E-Government Implementation in Indonesia: Financial Administrators in managing websites is an important and central Transparency on the Web. 2012 3rd International Conference on e- Education, e-Business, e-Management and e-Learning IPEDR vol.27 (2012). role in implementation of good governance concept which one of IACSIT Press, Singapore them is the principle of transparency and participation of [4] Prahono A. and Elidjen. (2015). Evaluating the Role e-Government on Public stakeholders. This is proven, that after the launch of the e- Administration Reform: Case of Official City Government Websites in Government of West Nias Regency, the Administrators no longer Indonesia. International Conference on Computer Science and maintain and improve performance for their websites. For now, Computational Intelligence. Procedia Computer Science. the website is suspended for various reasons and poor www.sciencedirect.com management. [5] Salahuddin A. and Rusli A. (2005) Information Systems Planning For E- Government In Indonesia. The Second International Conference on There has been no serious attention from the head of the West Innovations in Information Technology (IIT’05). Nias Regency for management, especially attention to financial [6] Singelton, et.al, Apparoaches to Social Research, 2008, p 237) support. The E-Government Administrators complain about the shorten of operational funds so that it has a negative impact on [7] Wahid, Fathul. (2008) Evaluating Focus And Quality Of Indonesian E- their performance. Government Websites. Seminar Nasional Aplikasi Teknologi Informasi 2008 (SNATI 2008).

RECOMMENDATIONS AUTHOR Some recommendations suggested as follows: Burhanuddin Panjaitan Balai Besar Pengembangan Sumber Daya In dealing with the unpreparedness, it seems that the local Manusia dan Penelitian Kementerian Komunikasi dan Informatika, government must have a common thought and perception Medan Jl. Tombak No. 31 Medan. [email protected] regarding the importance of the website which is one manifestation of e-Government and the implementation of the concept of Good Governance. Especially nowadays is the era of information technology, even with the official website of the district government able to promote its area without recognizing the boundaries, so that the potential of the region can be seen by investors to tourism that is able to attract tourists. Revitalization is an indispensable thing in improving e- Government Administrators performance, both the human resources and ITC support. A uniformity is needed, regarding the institutional position and responsibilities of e-Government Administrators where in this study it was found that the Administrators of e-Government in each SKPD of West Nias Regency Government differed in position, under Bappeda, the Ministry of Communication and Information, or stand alone. This will affect effectiveness and performance. To build a government that is better able to organize Good Governance, the Ministry of Communication and Information

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